One thing that's clear after the weekend is that top-level footballers have perfected the black arts of trickery to such an extent that it is almost impossible for referees to spot it. Adam Johnson of Manchester City and Danny Wellbeck of Manchester United gave outstanding demonstrations of how to get yourself fouled at the weekend, ploys that earned their teams crucial penalties.
It's one thing for players to trick referees. They've been doing it for years and it doesn't come as much of a surprise. Refs aren't naive and know that players will do anything to get an advantage.
No, what is shocking is when you think about just where players perfect these "skills." Just where do players learn how to hook their foot around the leg of an opponent at high speed, making it look like a clear cut foul by the defender. Well, it seems fairly obvious to me. Where do players go every day to train?
Can it be possible that players are taught these tricks? Or is it just something they perfect in training games? But surely such activities are supervised by the coaches.
But hang on, that would mean that the players were being coached in how to cheat by the very coaches who launch heartfelt attacks on players who use such tricks against their team. That can't be possible can it?
Sorry for picking on two players, because most of them are at it these days and the majority of Premier League strikers can probably do a pretty good job at pretenidng to be tripped. And the trip/non trip is just one example.
Shirt pulling concealed from referees, gross exaggeration of injuries to get an opponent sent off, the list goes on and on.
But maybe that's what the public want. If so, all us refs need to do is pack up and leave them to it. I'm sure the ratings will rise. Never mind the football.
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